– The quest for major junior hockey’s Holy Grail gets going this weekend. The WHL champion Edmonton Oil Kings are among the four teams competing at the 2014 Memorial Cup, and are back at the tournament for the second time in three years. The Oil Kings’ opening game is Saturday against the Guelph Storm, while the host London Knights start the tournament Friday night against Val d’Or.
– The Brandon Wheat Kings’ duo of Jayce Hawryluk and John Quenneville along with Elkhorn’s Travis Sanheim are among the 119 prospects invited to the National Hockey League’s combine. The draft showcase is running May 26th to 31st in Toronto, which includes fitness testing and interviews. The 2014 NHL Entry Draft is slated for June 27th and 28th in Philadelphia. For the full story, click here.
– The Stanley Cup playoff picture will be trimmed down to four on Friday night. The Anaheim Ducks and LA kings are facing off in Game 7 with the winner advancing to meet the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference Final. The Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers are in the Eastern Conference Final.
– Team Canada is rolling at the World Hockey Championship. The Canadians downed Denmark 6-1 on Thursday, behind a hat-trick from Cody Hodgson. Matt Read recorded two goals for Canada, who improved their record of 3-0-1. Former Wheat Kings Brayden Schenn and Jason Chimera are on the roster for Canada, who continue the round-robin against Italy on Friday.
– Russell product Derek Falloon and the Yorkton Terriers are off to the semifinals at the RBC Cup. Falloon fired the overtime winner as the Terriers took out the Dauphin Kings 2-1 to close out the round-robin on Thursday. The Terriers finish with a record of 2-and-2, while the Kings finish in top spot at 3-1. The playoffs begin Saturday with Yorkon taking on the host Vernon Vipers, while Dauphin goes up against the Carleton Place Canadians. The championship game goes Sunday. CKLQ’s Tyler Crayston more here.
– Westman’s Dustin Schneider, Toon Van Lankvelt and the rest of Canada’s national men’s volleyball team start their 2014 season this long weekend. Schneider, Van Lankvelt and crew are playing in a world championship qualifier in Mississauga, with the Canadians looking advancing to the worlds in Poland this fall. The tournament is also helping the Canadians prep for the upcoming FIVB World League matches. For more on this story, click here.
– The Vincent Massey Vikings are Brandon High School Fastball League Champions. Peyton Cobbe went the full seven innings and struck out eight batters along the way as the Vikings beat the Neelin Spartans 11-4 in the one-game city final. Jossa Danis had a double and drove in three runs for Vincent Massey, who advance to the interzone playoff with a spot in provincials on the line.
– Edwin Encarnacion hit a pair of home runs to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 4-2 win against the Cleveland Indians.
– The NBA’s Final Four is set. The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs will meet in the Western Conference Final while the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat meet in the East Final.
